An inland town, midway between Port Fairy and Warrnambool, Koroit services an area where rich black volcanic soils support extensive potato growing.
Origin of name: of Aboriginal origin, meaning fire. This would refer to the fact that Australia's only dormant volcano is in the vicinity. It erupted as recently as 5,000 years ago.
Brief history: The first Europeans took up land in the district in 1837. The Bolden brothers leased a station here in 1840 and overlanded stock to the site in the company of novelist Thomas Alexander Brown (Rolf Boldrewood). 1n 1843 William Rutledge, a protestant from County Cavan in Ireland obtained the Crown 5120 acres at one pound an area. Rutledge encouraged Irish immigrants to become tenant farmers; many took up the offer and fled their country during the Irish potato famine in the 1840s. Settlers from Scotland and Yorkshire also emigrated to the area at this time. Today Koroit has a National Trust classification for its authentic streetscapes. Over the years, Koroit has forged a strong bond with Australian literature through three of the nation's best known novelists. Brown assisted the pioneering Bolden brothers in overlanding stock into the district and is said to have modeled his Terrible Hollow in 'Robbery Under Arms' on Koroit's Tower Hill. Henry Handel Richardson used the town as a model for Gymgurra in 'The Fortunes of Richard Mahoney' trilogy. Frank Hardy (Power Without Glory) was born in the nearby village of Southern Cross.
Natural features: Lake Winslow; Moyne Swamp; Wild Dog Swamp; Lady Bay; Goose Lagoon; Spring Creek Swamp; Cape Reaumur
Built features: 22km long Mahogany Walking Track; Koroit Irish Festival
Heritage features: 'Rosebank' (1852-60)